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Always-Riding

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This is a bit of a rant really...

There's a few facebook groups out there at the moment that are aimed for people to write their complaints against dealers/sellers - which is a great idea in theory. What I don't understand is one or two of these groups really do push what I think is acceptable.

For example, someone writes a post about a dealer they've had an issue with. It's great to know issues people have with dealers so you know what to look out for/avoid. What I don't get is when these posts turn into a witch-hunt against the seller/dealer without knowing all the facts and only one side of the story. For me to judge the truth, I need to at least know both sides - but this is blatantly ignored and they run with just the one side. Threats are then posted, accusations continue and eventually ruining someone's livelihood.

Surely, this isn't right? Or am I really missing something?
 
And then there are people that you can't say a bad word against even though they are disgusting yards.

I'd also like to see people actually praised. I was speaking to a lady who has a business page and she said the odd occasion something goes wrong people are quick to put a review but then she gets messages and emails saying good service or how someone else has let them down but they don't seem to leave positive reviews.
 
joosie said:
No, it's not right. But as usual with social media people just jump on the bandwagon and moan along with everyone else!
Click to expand...

That's absolutely what happens! It makes me so angry how people feel vindicated ruining people's livelihoods because they just joined the bandwagon without knowing all the facts
 
Hello! Long time reader, don't be alarmed. Big fan.

There are similar issues in other animal hobbies, and one in particular has a 'Board of Enquiry' on their forum. Here buyers and sellers describe their grievances. Evidence must be reasonable. The offender is then invited to respond. With both sides, readers can make up their mind. Moderators are able to wade in and ask questions. They are also able to close discussions if no base for complaint is found. It's not a free-for-all gossip page, though always fascinating to read.

It's still court via social media, but at least there are a few rules and standards. They help people to not open themselves to liable laws too.

The Horse dealer FB page mentioned here never got around to approving my join request. They ask for you to have your friends list publicly viewable before approval, which I can't leave forever so I gave up.
 
I am getting narked with one of these groups that won't allow 'buyer blaming'. All fault seems to have lie with the dealer ALWAYS even if the purchaser buys unseen, with no vetting, and is obviously very novice. Buyers have a duty of care to themselves and the animal that they are buying, they can't hide behind consumer law and take the attitude that the horse can just be returned like a faulty dishwasher if they don't like it, it fails to settle in its new home and routine, or develops an illness weeks after they buy it. Yes, there are some shocking dealers out there, but buyers need to take some responsibility too.
 
I was kicked out of one of them for buyer blaming.

The stupid woman had bought, unseen, untried, unvetted and hadn’t asked many questions at all, certainly none about its health etc.
She posted a screen shot of the conversation. It went something like this:
Her: hi, I’m looking for a horse approx 16hh for novice rider
Dealer: I have a 16.2hh grey 8yr old, nice sensible sort. Here is a couple of photos £Xxxx
Her: fab send him to me

She was complaining that the horse had sarcoids, didn’t move straight and was a bit strong (but not unstoppable even by a novice) the dealer wouldn’t take the horse back.

I essentially told her it was her own fault and she didn’t have a leg to stand on. As a novice she should NEVER buy untried (whether buy her or by an instructor/ trusted knowledgable friend) and even if you buy unseen you should get it vetted. (As an experienced buyer I might not vet a cheap horse I had seen, but I always get a vetting on anything unseen though I only tend to buy young stock unseen)
 
I'm not a big Faceache user but seem to have ended up getting feeds from one of these dealer groups. Like others have said I am absolutely stunned by the number of people complaining who it turns out are novices who bought the horse without even going to see it or get a vetting done. Having said that it does appear that there are a number of dealers who are happy to sell a horse to these people.
 
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